Morgan County 14, Greene County 13

The Morgan County quarterback rushed off the field screaming, "I told y'all we could do it. I told y'all." Tears developed in the corners of his eyes.

But instead of doubters, all he met was congratulatory handshakes and hugs after leading the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 14-13 victory against Greene County on Friday.

"We knew we were going to win," said Harper, whose 29-yard touchdown pass to Cicognac Rivers knotted the score at 13-all with 1:36 to play. "We knew we had it in us. Even when we were down, we weren't even worried about it."

Greg Manzo's extra point gave Morgan County (4-2, 2-0 in Region 8-AA South) the lead for good, and the defense prevented a Tigers' comeback when Phillip Stovall and Brandon Horton combined to sack quarterback William Leslie on fourth-and-7 with 40 seconds left.

Greene County (3-3, 0-1) broke a 7-all tie on a 5-yard touchdown run by Dontravious Wright with 2:33 to play, but sophomore kicker Juan Rocha's extra-point attempt was wide left.

Morgan County started its next drive with a 41-yard pass from Harper to Clay Duvall, and three plays later Harper found Rivers on "wingback waggle back throwback" - the same play the pair converted for a 53-yard touchdown last week against Washington-Wilkes.

It was Harper's second touchdown of the second half (he found Dominique Hall for an 11-yard score to tie it at 7-all on the first drive of the third quarter) after a first half in which he went 0-for-2 and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

"(Offensive coordinator) John Robbins started spreading it out (in the second half)," Morgan County coach Bill Malone said. "We came out the opening drive of the second half and just threw it all over the place. For our kids to respond the way that they responded, I just can't say enough about how hard our kids played."

Defensive lineman Dequadre Mapp scored the only touchdown of the first half on a 10-yard interception return with four minutes to play in the first quarter.

Greene County's defensive line hurried and tipped Harper's pass, allowing Mapp to make an easy catch and score.

Although the only touchdown of the half came on defense, Greene County's offense sustained four drives of seven plays or more.

Quarterback William Leslie completed 11 of 22 passes for 114 yards and no interceptions in the first half, and senior receiver Wilbert Carter hauled in six of his passes for 90 yards.

The Tigers gained 165 yards in the half, but gave up 49 yards on six penalties and failed to score on four trips into Morgan County territory.

"There were so many opportunities that we blew," Greene County coach Larry Milligan said. "They did a good job defensively on us and we just didn't capitalize. You can't do that and win.

"I don't know what to say other than they played hard, our kids played hard. We missed an extra point and they got it. It happens."

As Greene County's offense struggled to put the ball in the end zone during the first half, Morgan County failed to move it past midfield.

The Bulldogs settled for just 35 total yards - all rushing - and two first downs in the first half.

"We couldn't do a stinking thing, and then I challenged the guys at halftime to go out there and not let this scheme that Greene County was running confuse us," Malone said. "Just come down, make your base blocks like you're supposed to make them. Doggone we did it."